JPS583248B2 - keyboard - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard used in electronic computers, printers, typewriters, etc.

Conventional keyboards usually have a number of keys ranging from about 50 for English typewriters to several thousand for Kanji typewriters.With a small number of keys, the number of characters that can be displayed is extremely limited; However, those with this type had the disadvantage of extremely poor operability.

One way to solve these problems is to miniaturize the operating parts of key switches, etc. by providing display boards with names attached to each key switch, etc., and by stacking multiple display boards and binding them like a book. Koto Tokko Sho 4 0 -2 4
Although it has already been proposed in Publication No. 306, such a conventional structure still has the disadvantage that it requires an operation similar to flipping through a book, making the operation cumbersome.

The object of the present invention is to improve the keyboard in particular, and to provide a keyboard that can increase the number of characters that can be accommodated for each key, reduce the number of keys, and improve operability so that it can be used in various fields. It is to make a proposal.

In the present invention, a film and/or keyboard containing a plurality of character types is installed on the bottom surface of a keyboard having a large number of transparent keys so as to be movable two-dimensionally, and when a character type selection key is pressed, the film and/or keyboard can be moved. Only the character type selected by actuating the drive unit is positioned directly below the key, and the characters displayed on the keyboard are converted, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of the conventional keyboard.

Although various embodiments of the present invention can be considered, the present invention will be explained in detail according to specific examples shown in the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a keyboard with a large number of transparent keys 2.

This key may be a lens.

3 is a character type selection key. A film 4 is placed adjacent to the bottom surface of the keyboard 1, and both sides of the film 4 are wound around drive shafts 5 and 6.

These drive shafts 5 and 6 are connected to a drive source such as a stepping motor and driven.

7 is a light source for illumination. When a key for a predetermined character type is pressed from among the character ridge selection keys 3, the film drive shaft 5 or 6 is driven clockwise or counterclockwise to move the film 4 and position the predetermined character type under the transparent key 2. Then it will stop.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each key 8 of the keyboard is a convex lens, and a dial plate 9 is provided below the keyboard so that the keys can be freely moved vertically and horizontally by means of a link mechanism (not shown), which is a known technology. Nine characters correspond to one key 8, and one of them
When a character is located on the optical axis of the convex lens of the key 8, only that character is visible, and other characters are not visible because they are off the optical axis.

Therefore, when a key of a predetermined character type is pressed from among the character type selection keys 3, the dial 9 moves vertically or horizontally by a predetermined amount in response to the signal, so that the predetermined character type is positioned on the optical axis of the convex lens of each key 8. It has become.

These driving means are conventionally known and can be considered in various ways, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

The convex lens of this key 8 has a concave and convex screen 1 as shown in Fig. 4.
0 may be provided, each character is projected onto this uneven screen 10, and only the characters at a predetermined position are refracted at a predetermined angle to be visible to the operator.

For example, when you try to type the information "Part■", the first letter "P" is a capital letter, so use character selection key 3 on the keyboard to format the entire character to be displayed on the key on the keyboard. Select the "P" key to change it to an English letter and press it.

Next, since "a, r, t" are lowercase letters, the keyboard format is switched to lowercase letters using the character selection key 3, and the keys a, r, and t are pressed in sequence.

In the same way, you can complete the input by selecting the Roman numeral character ■.

According to the present invention, the characters on the key can be changed to various types by moving the film or dial under the keyboard two-dimensionally by simply pressing the key of a predetermined character type from among the character type selection keys. The number of characters can be increased, the keyboard can be made smaller, and the operability can be greatly improved.

In the embodiment, the explanation was given of moving the film in the horizontal direction or in the vertical and horizontal directions of the dial, but the same effect can be expected by moving the keyboard in the vertical and horizontal directions. Even more effects can be obtained by combining the movements of .

Above, we have explained the case where it is used in an English typewriter.
It is obvious that it can also be used as a kanji printer and for other purposes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial front sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of main parts of another embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the convex lens shown in FIG. 3; 1...Keyboard, 2...Transparent key, 3...Character selection key, 4...Film, 9...Dial board.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an information selection input device that selects and specifies a plurality of displayed information images and inputs a signal corresponding to the specified information to a required device, a plurality of unit sections formed by a plurality of types of information elements are arranged. an information medium, and is arranged along the information medium at an imaging distance, and is in contact with and projects information elements of the same number and type as each of the unit sections, and of the same type within the unit section. a multi-lens plate that holds microlenses; and a light source that projects projection light onto the microlenses via the medium; the information medium and the multi-lens board are provided in each of the unit sections to which each of the microlenses belongs. An information selection keyboard characterized in that the information elements are moved relative to each other so that each of the information elements can be selectively displayed as a projection image depending on the type of information.